A Wednesfield church that four years ago was facing demolition has been given a new lease of life after PCC members voted to embark on a programme of repair and improvement instead.

St Gregory the Great, built in the 1950’s, gained its reprieve after a building survey found it to be structurally sound though in need of urgent refurbishment to bring it in line with current guidelines.

In the last twelve months out of date church heaters have been replaced; the toilets have been refurbished to a high standard, to include a disabled facility and new sanitary ware; and the last remaining set of steps have been replaced by a ramp. Redecoration and modernisation of other areas is ongoing.

But while improving the existing building has become a priority, the main focus of all the work remains the same as it has always been – to reach out into the community and grow the congregation.

To that end St Gregort’s are holding a mission weekend with the Bishop of Lichfield, the Rt Revd Jonathan Gledhill, over 2-4 October. Called ‘Gathering in the Harvest’, organisers are encouraging the local community to get involved by making scarecrows and displaying them in front gardens.

‘After lengthy discussions with the diocese and other possible partners over the last 3 to 4 years about whether we should re-order or rebuild the church, we decided that we should celebrate and improve what we already have,’ explained PCC Secretary Gregory Jones. ‘As part of that process we are pursuing our vision of ‘growing the church younger’, and this mission weekend is the first of many activities we have lined up for the future.

‘We have already started making scarecrows, and will be holding scarecrow-making craft sessions in church in the run-up to the event. We hope as many people as possible will make their own scarecrow and put it in their front garden – thereby defining the parish boundary.’

The weekend activities include a giant craft based event for local schools and parents; a quiz with fish and chip supper; barbecue with the Whitehorse Band; all concluding with an all-age service at 10am and a Songs of Praise service at 6pm.